Wine Trivia Stemware Grape Varietals Pronunciation Guide Reading Labels
|
Have you ever picked up a bottle of wine and wondered how in the world to pronounce its name? Maybe you have been to a party or out with some friends, and wanted to order a glass/bottle of wine but felt uncomfortable with how to say the name. Well if so, you may find this page to be useful. The pronunciations may vary slightly depending on what part of the world you are in. Amarone (Ah-ma-ROH-nay) ~ A type of Veronese wine made by a special process in which grapes are harvested late and allowed to "raisinate", producing a higher alcohol percentage in the wine and sometimes a sweet taste on the palate.Amontillado (Ah-mone-tee-YAH-doe) ~ A type of sherry. AVA ~ An abbreviation for American Viticulture Area. Barbaresco (Bar-bar-ESS-coh) ~ A full-bodied D.O.C.G. red wine from Piedmont, Italy, made from the Nebbiolo grape. Barbera (Bar-BEAR-ah) ~ A red grape grown primarily in Piedmont, Italy. Barolo (Bar-OH-lo) ~ A full-bodied D.O.C.G. red wine from Piedmont, Italy, made from the Nebbiolo grape. B.A.T.F. ~ An abbreviation for Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the government agency that controls wine production in the Unite States. Beaujolais (Bo-zho-LAY) ~ A light fruity red burgandy wine from the region of Beaujolais, in terms of quality, the basic Beaujolais. Beaujolais Nouveau (Bo-zho-LAY New-VOH) ~ The "new" Beaujolais that is produced and delivered to retailers in a matter of weeks after the harvest. Typically it is released in November and consumed by February. Beaujolais-Villages (Bo-zho-LAY Vih-lahzh) ~ A Beaujolais wine that comes from a blend of grapes from designated villages in the region, it is a step up in quality from regular Beaujolais. Blanc de Blancs (Blahnk du BLAHNK) ~ A white wine made from white grapes. Brix (Bricks) ~ A scale that measures the sugar level of the unfermented grape juice (must). Brunello Di Montalcino (Brew-NELL-oh dee Mon-tahl-CHEE-no) ~ A high quality D.O.C.G. red Italian wine from the Tuscany region. Brut (Brute) ~ The driest style of Champagne. Cabernet Franc (Kah-burr-NAY Frahnk) ~ A red grape of the Bordeaux region and Loire Valley of France. Cabernet Sauvignon (Kah-burr-NAY So-vin-YON) ~ The most important red grape grown in the world, yielding many of the great wines of Bordeaux and California. Chablis (Shah-BLEE) ~ The northern most region in Burgundy, a wine that comes from Chardonnay grapes grown anywhere in the Chablis district. Champagne (Sham-pane) ~ The region in France that produces the only sparkling wine authentically called Champagne. Elsewhere it is usually referred to as Sparkling wine, even if the same process is used to make the wine/Champagne. Chaptalization ~ The addition of sugar to the must (fresh grape juice) before fermentation. Chardonnay (Shar-dun-NAY) ~ The most important and expensive white grape, now grown all over the world. Nearly all French white Burgundy wines are made from 100 percent Chardonnay. Chenin Blanc (Shen'n BLANKH) ~ A white grape native to the Loire valley. Also grown in California and Texas. Chianti (key-AHN-tee) ~ A D.O.C.G. red wine from the Tuscany region of Italy. Chianti Classico (Key-AHN-tee Class-ee-ko) ~ One step above Chianti, in terms of quality, this wine is from an inner district of Chianti. Chianti Classico Riserva (Key-AHN-tee Class-ee-ko Re-ser-va) ~ The best quality level of Italian Chianti, which requires more aging that Chianti and Chianti Classico. Concord ~ Native to North America. It is used in some New York state wine. Colheita (Kohl-AY-ta) ~ Portuguese term for "vintage." Cosecha (Koh-SAY-cha) ~ Spanish for "harvest." Cream Sherry ~ A type of sherry made from a mixture of Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso. Crianza (Cree-AHN-za) ~ A wine aged a year in oak and a year in the bottle. It is the most basic and least expensive quality level of Rioja wine. Decanting ~ The process of pouring wine from its bottle into a carafe to separate the sediment from the wine. Demi-sec (Deh-mee-seck) ~ A champagne containing a high level of residual sugar. D.O.C. ~ An abbreviation for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, the Italian government agency that controls wine production. D.O.C.G. ~ An abbreviation for Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita; the Italian governmment allows this marking to appear only on the finest wines. The "G" stands for "guaranteed." Dolcetto (Dohl-CHET-toh) ~ A red wine from Piedmont, Italy, that is similar in style to a Beaujolais wine. Dosage (Doh-SAJZH) ~ A combination of wine and cane sugar that is used in making Champagne. Estate Bottled ~ Wine that is made, produced, and bottled by the vineyard's owner. Extra dry ~ Less dry than brut Champagne. Fermentation ~ The process by which grape juice is made into wine. Fino (FEE-noh) ~ A type of Sherry. First Growth ~ The highest quality of Bordeaux Chateau wine from the Medoc Classification of 1855. Flor ~ A type of yeast that develops in some Sherry production. Fortified wine ~ A wine such as Port and Sherry that has additional grape brandy that raises the alcohol content. Gamay (Ga-MAY) ~ A red grape used to make Beaujolais wine. Garnacha (Gar-NAH-cha) ~ A red grape grown in Spain that is related to the Grenache grape of the Rhone valley region of France. Gran Reserva ~ A Spanish wine that has had extra aging. Jerez de la Frontera (Hair-eth day la fron-Tair-ah) ~ One of the towns in Andalusia, Spain where Sherry is produced. Jug Wine ~ A generic drinking wine. Kabinett (Kah-bee-NET) ~ A light, semi-dry German wine. Liqueur de Tirage (Lee-KooR deh Tear-AHZH) ~ A blend of sugar and yeast added to Champagne to begin the wine's second fermentation. Long-vatted ~ A term for a wine fermented with the grapes skins for a long period of time to aquire a rich red color. Manzanilla ~ (Mahn-than-NEE-ya) ~ A type of Sherry. Mechanical harvester ~ A machine used on flat vineyards. It shakes the vines to harvest the grapes. Merlot (MARE-low) ~ The red "softening" grape grown primarily in the Bordeaux region of France, California, and Chile. Methode Champenoise (May-TUD Shahm-pen WAHZ) ~ The method by which Champagne is made. Must ~ Grape Juice. Nebbiolo (Neh-bee-OH-loh) ~ A red grape grown in the Piedmont, Italy, which produces some of the finest Italian wine, such as Barolo and Barbaresco. Non-vintage ~ Wine, or Champagne that is not made from grapes grown in a specific year. Nose ~ The term used to describe the bouquet and aroma of wine. Official Classification of 1855 ~ A classification drawn up by wine brokers of the best Medoc chateaus of that time. Petite Sirah (Peh-TEET Sih-RAH) ~ A red grape grown primarily in California. Phylloxera (Fill-LOCK-seh-rah) ~ A root louse that kills grape vines. Piedmont (Peed-MON-tay) ~ One of the most important wine districts in Italy. Pinot Blanc (PEA-no Blahnk) ~ A white grape grown mainly in France. It is also grown in Germany, Italy, and California. Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris (PEA-no GREE-jzhee-o/PEA-no GREE) ~ The most popular white wine from Italy made from the grape variety Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Gris. Pinot Noir (PEA-no nwahr) ~ A fragile red grape that is difficult to grow. Most all Burgandy wines from France are made from the Pinot Noir grape. It is can also be grown in California and Oregon successfully, and is doing well in some parts of Texas. Reserva/Riserva ~ A term that means a wine has extra aging. It is often found on Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian wine labels. Reserve ~ A term sometimes found on American wine labels that usually indicates a better quality wine. Residual Sugar ~ An indication of how dry or sweet a wine is. Riddling ~ One of the steps in the Champagne making process. The bottles are turned gradually each day until they are upside down, with the sediment resting in the neck of the bottle. Riesling (REES-ling) ~ A white grape grown primarily in Alsace, Germany, and California. Rioja (Ree-OH-ha) ~ A wine region in Spain. Ruby Port ~ A dark sweet fortified wine blended from non-vintage wines. Sangiovese (San-geeo-VEHS-eh) ~ A red grape grown primarily in Tuscany, Italy. Sauvignon Blanc (SO-vin-yon Blahnk) ~ A white grape grown in France, Washington State, and California. Shiraz/Sirah (SHEER-oz/Sih-RAH) ~ A red grape grown primarily in Australia. Short-vatted ~ A term for a wine fermented with the grape skins for only a short time. Solera system (So-LEHR-ah) ~ A process used to systematically blend various vintages of Sherry. Spatlese (SHPATE-lay-zuh) ~ A white German wine made from grapes picked later than the normal harvest. Usually producing a sweeter wine. Stainless-steel tank ~ A container that is used to ferment and age some wines. Sulfur dioxide ~ A substance used in winemaking and grape growing as a preservative, antioxidant, and also a sterlizing agent. Tannin ~ A natural compound that comes from the skins, stems, and pips of the grapes and from the wood in which wine is aged. Tawny Port ~ A Port that is lighter, softer, and aged longer than Ruby Port. Tempranillo (Temp-rah-NEE-yoh) ~ A red grape grown primarily in Spain. Thompson seedless ~ A white grape grown in California and used to make jug wines. Trebbiano (Treb-bee-AH-no) ~ A white grape grown in Italy. Tuscany (TUSS-can-nee) ~ A region in Italy. Varietal wine ~ A wine that is labeled with the predominant grape (usually the only grape) used to produce the wine. Such as Chardonnay, Cabernet, etc... Veronese wines (Vare-oh-NEES) ~ The wines from Vento, Italy. Valpolicella, Bardolino, Soave, and Amarone. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (VEE-no NOH-bee-leh dee Mon-teh-pull-CHAH-no) ~ A D.O.C.G red wine from the Tuscany region of Italy. Vintage ~ Grapes that are harvested in a particular year. A wine that carries a year on its label should only be made from grapes harvested in that year. Vitis labrusca (VEE-tiss la-BREW-ska) ~ A native grape species in America. Vitis vinifera (VEE-tiss vih-NIFF-er-ah) ~ The European grape species used to make European and California wine. Wood Port ~ Ruby and Tawny Port. Ready to drink as soon as you buy them. Zinfandel (Zin-fan-DELL) ~ A red grape grown mainly in California. |
|
 Code, Text & Graphics © 2000: Delta Web Design |